African Children’s

WrittenStories by children in in celebration of 50 years of Australian–Mauritius Diplomatic Relations

Sixtieth Collection

DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 1 4/6/20 3:14 pm Proudly presented by

Hon. Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology I am greatly pleased that my Ministry continues to be involved in the Ducere Foundation African Children's Stories Program. Collection 60 is yet another special edition published in the context of the 50th Anniversary of Mauritius-Australia Diplomatic Relations. It was thrilling to see the enthusiasm generated for the SLAM poetry competition as evidenced by the wonderful response from students across Mauritius. I am deeply appreciative that the youth of Mauritius have earned international respect for their talent in such a competition where poetry is the medium of transmission. I believe this is but one sliver of their expansive imaginative faculties and I am convinced that this new collection will serve to further attest to, confirm and endorse their talent. It is today universally recognised that there is no one definition of slam poetry. It is a modem idiom where language becomes song and words can run free with the body moving in sync with the rhythm and soul of ideas. It has certainly brought gravitas to what is now viewed as a modern form of poetry. This has been aptly captured in Collection 60. As with the previous collections, published at the time of the 50th Anniversary of our Independence, this collection has served to provide a unique platform for students to explore their imagination, share life's experiences and also capture memories from their elders – but this time, through rhythm, rhyme, alliteration and other such literary devices. I am more than delighted with the passion, creativity and the sophisticated depth of meaning that these students have evoked in their slams. I note that the twenty poems that have found their way into this collection were selected through a rigorous adjudication process based on the chosen theme of "Education". It is only sound that education should have been given the thematic top billing. It is, in fact, education that today underpins both the expected future quality of life of every student and the economic productivity of our nation. Congratulations therefore to Ducere Foundation and the team at the Ministry who played a critical part in the implementation of the SLAM Poetry Competition, the fruits of which have been gathered in this collection. I am confident that thousands of educators and learners will take great interest in, and be inspired by, this book.

DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 2 4/6/20 3:14 pm Message from Ducere

ucere is a social enterprise committed Competition was launched in Mauritius, to the ongoing expansion of the African a special project inspired by the Hon. Children’s Stories program across all Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun in her African countries. capacity as Minister for Education, D Tertiary Education, Science and Partnership is central to our success, as Technology and now Vice Prime Minister without collaboration and commitment of the Republic of Mauritius. Ducere Foundation would need its own army of staff to deliver its vision. SLAM poetry cannot be defined with Ducere Global Business School is the a single meaning. The twenty poems principal funder of the Foundation and within this publication reflect deep we are grateful to our Founder Mathew thought, passionate commitment, Jacobson for his vision and ongoing identified concerns, joy in learning and passion for our mission. hope for the future. The African Children’s Stories program Ducere is proud to present these encourages children to write from their poems, knowing that they will be shared imagination, share their day to day reality across the globe with the intent to and also tell the stories that their elders celebrate African student authors, and were told in their youth. to encourage others to read, write and share. As a child, the motto at my school Collection 60 is a wonderful milestone was Nulla dies sine linea – not a single as we begin to celebrate the 50th day without a line. This is a motto I trust Anniversary of the beginning of all students will hold dear. Australia–Mauritius Diplomatic Relations. It is two years since the SLAM Poetry We commend these poems to you.

Ducere Foundation Directors

Di Fleming Mat Jacobson Executive Director Founder and CEO

DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 3 4/6/20 3:14 pm A message from the Mauritian Team

The Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology has been in partnership with the Ducere Foundation, delivering the African Children’s Stories for nearly five years. This program is committed to the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 – quality education. Over the years, many Mauritian students and educators have engaged in associated classroom activities, including creative writing and illustration, as well as the teacher training master classes. The Ducere Foundation is under the direction of Mrs Di Fleming, who is also the Honorary Consul for Mauritius in Victoria, Australia, a leader passionately engaged in this program. It has been my pleasure to work with this Foundation since the very start, encouraging all schools across Mauritius to expand their understanding and joy in story writing and story-telling. Over eighty students from the Republic have had their creative works – stories, poems and illustrations – published and shared across many African nations. This present collection reflects the student responses to the Slam Poetry Competition, which was launched by the Honourable (Mrs) Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology. Selection of the best slam poems was based on the following criteria: » expression: the ability to capture the ideas, concepts and imagery through rhythm, rhyme, alliteration and other forms of language use » creativity and imagination: the ability to explore personal or global issues in a way that expands meaning and nuance » audience engagement: the ability to capture the audience’s attention and leave an indelible message or characteristic » slam poetry for publication: the appeal for public performance across multiple media.

DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 4 4/6/20 3:14 pm This year, 2020, is an auspicious time for Australia and Mauritius. It is 50 years since the beginning of Australia and Mauritius diplomatic relations, a relationship of which we are delighted to form part of and where the African Children’s Stories are central to the engagement of our educational institutions. I would like to both introduce and acknowledge the team at the Ministry: » V. Hauroo (Mrs), Head Library Cadre » Shalini Mahadowa-Reechaye (Mrs), Administrator » Rajiv Kumar Aukhojee (Mr), Administrator » Guy J. N. Genevieve (Mr), Administrator. Our team has been consistently engaged in the African Stories Program over the years: communicating with schools, adjudicating the literacy competitions, managing and collating each vital piece of information to ensure high quality stories and poems that reflect the nature and and which will positively influence children across the globe. We are extremely proud of the way our students and teachers have responded to the Slam Poetry challenge, addressing the criteria and exploring the literary medium. We are delighted that this year, as we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Australia and Mauritius diplomatic relations, we are able to launch Collection 60 of the African Children’s Stories, a program that more than binds our countries together.

Aneeta Ghoorah (Mrs) Director & ASG NATCOM UNESCO Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology

DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 5 4/6/20 3:14 pm Contents

Enlightenment ...... 08 Before art silences constellations 1360 light-years away...... 11 “E for education”...... 14 Education is an enlightening experience...... 17 Beauty of education...... 20 The fantasy of the Midas touch ...... 24 Education ...... 28 Evolution ...... 31 My feelings on education...... 34 Redefining education ...... 37

DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 6 4/6/20 3:14 pm Contents cont'd

Follow your guide...... 39 Education...... 42 Lost...... 45 Education in human civilisation...... 47 My life and views on education...... 49 The benefits of education...... 53 Never question education ...... 55 A life with education...... 57 Education, the ultimate destination …...... 59 My views on education...... 61

DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 7 4/6/20 3:14 pm Enlightenment Written by Nihma Milhaab Elahee, 15 years Sodnac State Secondary School First Competition Prize-winner

hey told me to write on education I’m searching for words of inspiration I thought education would take me to the moon TNot the four walls of a classroom. Confined in this room of darkness I believed outside was happiness I wanted to swing and play Just have fun in every way. But I was to stay in this room of tables and chairs When teachers came in, up went my hairs Striving and tiring myself to work But hey! It’s not done yet, you’re got homework. Attitude changed. Aptitude drained. All I had in mind every day Was to go home to start my play But slowly I began to realise That education came from all sides. At home it was all about manners Parents kept flashing those like banners My parents educating me In etiquette, languages, so I could see.

08 African Children's Stories

DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 8 4/6/20 3:14 pm And realisation dawned when I went to buy corn Coins jingled onto the counter, my brain working like a calculator Math coming in handy and I felt real dandy In pointing out the mistake the shopkeeper made at the station. Waiting in the rain A cool guy came up to me With the look that was strained Can’t read, he whispered, need help with the train. I felt his shame Asked myself: Who was to blame? He felt depleted Having not been educated. I felt a jolt, a spark No longer in the dark Educated I wanted to be The same classroom beckoned to me. Abhorrence vanished, motivation replenished, confidence flourished Now my mind yearned For the knowledge I wanted to learn To school I was ready to return. I began to pay attention To what was being said during class discussion My mind broadened Not all so sudden.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 9 4/6/20 3:14 pm Over time Although it was a hard climb My knowledge increased My childishness ceased. My way of talking become refined I knew where I was going, my objectives defined I see how education changed me for the best Surely education is the way to success.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 10 4/6/20 3:14 pm Before art silences constellations 1360 light-years away Written by Yukino Mayumi Chang-Leng, 16 years Loreto College Quatre Bornes Second Competition Prize-winner

he first time I let myself grow The ground hushes constellations writhing 1360 light-years away. An implosion occurs and away soar all the body parts that weighed me down. TBut before that happens … my mind, a cyclone Hollanda born again from wild whirlwinds of words Before the red of my eyes, 6’s and 9’s Dancing at the distant sound of crashing waves – “Worthless”. I mistake 6’s for 9’s but aren’t they the same anyway? Hours pass and I am still incapable Of drawing a line between different shades of grey. A ray of hope appears, then disappears. A colour-blindness for the figure-weak. Math continues to form clouds as I try to wipe storms off my cheek. Weep, weep until all the air in your room turns into smoke As a ceaseless shower of numbers makes you choke. You cannot breathe. You crawl and dig for air underneath. Gasp! Gasp! Gasp! … I take in more than I can swallow Because I remember my mother once told me “Always seek for more”.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 11 4/6/20 3:14 pm Mum, how could I have known that you meant “Reach for the mountains”? As I seek to fly when I may fall How could I have known it was never my fault Not being able to extinguish the scorching fires in my heart? As I stare down at crumpled papers I now realise that it never was my fault. It was that of a ”second home” moulded into illusionary excellence Screaming “Pre-eminence and Science, what’s the difference?” Prison masquerading as four walls, three floors, closed doors and whiteboards. A thief ripping children away from their hopes and dreams A sorcerer turning imagination into memorisation. It was the fault of an institution conditioning humans oblivious to new heights. Students with straight A’s but crooked aims Tying their hands and clipping their wings Shutting their eyes to the red and orange skies Stitching their mouth so they never dare to speak.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 12 4/6/20 3:14 pm I stand on table tops and speak up for the voiceless Purge my soul into words unsaid and coat it with fearlessness. I speak for those whose hands no longer dare to splatter their thoughts into colours Whose hands are now impelled to only draw straight lines and perfect curves. For those who bury their passions, believing they will grow one day. Until then, I hide bitterness at the back of my tongue And wait for the taste to disappear. 6’s and 9’s no longer scare me. See I am learning to listen to their silent symphonies Without ever ignoring the lengths of my abilities. Away soar all the body parts that weighed me down A restrained mind, bloodshot eyes and shaky fingertips. The first time I let myself grow The ground hushes constellations writhing 1360 light-years away. When that happens, everything around goes still I reach for the art I was born to fulfil.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 13 4/6/20 3:14 pm “E for education” Written by Maithili Sevanandee, 13 years Gaetan Raynal State College Third Competition Prize-winner

t was five minutes before midnight I realised I've been thinking for hours Wondering how to stride ahead in life Then my fluttering mind settled Ion a word That dear word that is always in my head. Education, education, education … A word, a precious subject That you should never ever reject Be it today, tomorrow or any day Education will surely pass your way. Education, education, education … Something I need and so does the whole nation I can still not fully grasp the meaning Despite dwelling in my thoughts all evening All I know education is important, so important.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 14 4/6/20 3:14 pm An aim, a priority, a passport for life … As said by my mama: All of us should know our ABCs All of us should know our tables and islands overseas Without forgetting our balancing equations and formulae. But I keep wondering How will it help me during my day? T for thank you, S for sorry But when to say thank you and sorry That was not explained, I’m sorry! Education, education, education … I did get some of it from my granny when she sat on her swinging chair She was the best teacher in that school in the fresh air As I sat listening to her she taught me the lessons of life from her 88 years Happiness, willpower, hard work, compromise … lucky were my ears!

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 15 4/6/20 3:14 pm I am a young girl who wants to visit the moon But doesn’t even know where to start to learn I have expressed myself black on white with holy words But still pondering about what is true Education, education, education.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 16 4/6/20 3:14 pm Education is an enlightening experience Written by Nawfar Muhamad Sawar, 16 years Floreal State Secondary School

ducation, education, education Get some education, my parents shout Why should I? I pout No education, no locked doors open, they say ENo education, no pay, they say No education, no future, they say What is this education I wonder An enlightening experience reply my parents That gives power. Power to realise your dreams To make us proud To become independent And fly with your own wings To be valued and to be prized Power to build a gratifying future To share with your sons. Education, education, education Get some education, my teachers harp Why should I? I cap No education, no creativity, they say No education, no innovation, they say No education, no freedom, they say What is this education? I wonder It is an enlightening experience

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 17 4/6/20 3:14 pm Explain my teachers That gives power Power to exercise choice Choose between right and wrong To read, write, count, explore Without any limit To say “no” to injustice To fight repression Power to speak out Against corruption. Education, education, education Get some education, society demands Why should I? I retort No education, no productivity, they say No education, no status, they say No education, no morality, they say What is this education? I wonder It is an enlightening experience Shouts society That gives power Power to meet challenges That improve attitude To become humane Though not necessarily a saint To cultivate the mind To nurture society Power to share experiences With future generations. Education, education, education Get some education, the learned ones advise Why should I? I ask. No education, no progress, they say No education, no collaboration, they say No education, no persuasion, they say What is this education? I wonder

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 18 4/6/20 3:14 pm It is an enlightening experience State the learned ones That gives power Power to learn about science, matter, energy And the Mighty One To improve the mindset And not believe blindly To discover new horizons Without constraints Power to address difficulties With confidence. Education, education, education Get some education the illiterates reiterate Why should I? I ask No education, no gain, they say No education, no household, they say No education, no happiness, they say What is this education? I wonder It is an enlightening experience Cry the illiterates That gives power Power to be trusted And have faith in oneself To have an identity And be known To be appreciated And show appreciation Power to become powerful And protect the helpless. Education, education, education Get some education, they ALL say And I know why now! It is an enlightening experience I know the way.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 19 4/6/20 3:14 pm Beauty of education Written by Lakshay Boodadoo, 15 years Royal College Curepipe

ne two three four A B C D I open the door For you to be OTo be alive To be wise A first step to gain knowledge Many more steps to reach the edge I am the light guiding through darkness Start small and grow to greatness I am the sword that cuts ignorance To wield me, one must have patience I am the wheel of society For kids, a burden but a necessity Without me your future is at stake Take me, your future I will make To this I promise A chance not to miss

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 20 4/6/20 3:14 pm One two three four A B C D I open the door For you to be To be alive To be wise I feed hungry minds Unleash the sight of the blind Leading the way for you to find Something better, something divine Reach for the sky Open your wings to fly The sky is not the limit Sole way to reach the summit Your dream I can fulfil Knowledge I can instil Build up on your skill But a lot to learn still

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 21 4/6/20 3:14 pm One two three four A B C D I open the door For you to be To be alive To be wise My power is infinite No other can be as bright I shine through the darkest night Because I am all might Come forward and take my hand A companion I will be till the end Together we move forward I swear I’ll keep my word

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 22 4/6/20 3:14 pm Never to leave your side Even during the tide We’ll go through ups and downs To reach the desired crowns One two three four A B C D I open the door For you to be To be alive To be wise Deeper than the ocean You plunge with devotion I am full of emotion My friend, I am education

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 23 4/6/20 3:14 pm The fantasy of the Midas touch Written by Mélany Labêche, 15 years Eden College (Girls)

uestions come to my mind Trying to continuously bind The theoretical and practical facets Of our educational system QSo, I thought, why not Slam to share my philosophy. Parents preach Teachers teach Am I an empty jar? So far … It’s so tragic I’m getting sick of excessive sitting In a confined classroom all day. I’m dismayed … What’s the rat race doing to our generation? Bombarding us with examinations! As said by Nelson Mandela: “Education is the most powerful weapon Which you can use to change the world.” But why? Why is the education system still the same? It’s such a shame!

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 24 4/6/20 3:14 pm Everyone is unique Life-long learning is what I seek. Our educational system is judging a fish “By its ability to climb trees”. Hats off to Albert Einstein for saying that. All we are doing is to accumulate degrees. Is it wise to teach the same thing in the same way? No way! Detention! Competition! Tuition! Instead of collaboration … A depiction of Charles Darwin’s theory in “The survival of the fittest” But in my head, it’s all a mess! Will standardised tests decide my fate? It’s still not too late to change and build A happy and “truly educated” generation. Imagination and creativity Will definitely lead us to maturity. Teach me how to love and I will serve Show me how to fight my fears And I will shed no more tears.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 25 4/6/20 3:14 pm Why am I focusing on the fantasy of the Midas touch? For those who don’t know Our education system is considered to be like the Midas touch. But it’s a fantasy! As no one becomes educated fully By relying on books only. We are losing our creativity Which is the ultimate reality! Things evolve; they get better. But even after a century, the education system is still the same. All it wishes to do is to tame. Let’s be real, educated groups of post-modernist youth. This is the only truth It is good to know. Steve Job’s net worth was 7 billion Richard Branson’s net worth is 4.2 billion Oprah Winfrey’s net worth is 2.7 billion Billions smiling at them all Who did not get a degree. Okay, forget about money!

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 26 4/6/20 3:14 pm Let’s think about charity Like Muhammed Ali did And how can we forget Jesus? Did schools teach them this? No! Making money is taught But not donating money. Before it becomes annoying One last question remains. Is school preparing us for the future? People, let’s stick together With the courage that we must gather. Our goals are being set too high Making it difficult for some to climb. Education in a limited environment can never be Midas. Let students be Midas To turn bad into good And NOT to rely only on books. To know the true meaning of education Is where we are trying to seek attention.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 27 4/6/20 3:14 pm Education Written by Jivalutchmee Tandrayen, 14 years Gaetan Raynal State College

n my first class ever at school I was taught alphabets and numbers I was a fool To think that education comprised of only these IIt was only years later that I understood the real meaning Of this process that constantly grows in us, forever and ever. Is education only about history, mathematics, science or languages? Education will give you good grade Good grades will lead you to a stable career, income and successful life Such is the importance of education Those words so often heard are not wrong But are they always right? Education is life itself For it starts from birth till our last breath It continues to expand as we await our death Through the least significant event to the biggest It is indeed a never-ending process. A mosquito bite The scent of roses Flying in an aeroplane The bruise on one’s leg Falling in love Whatever broadens our horizon Deepens our insight Refines our reaction Stimulates thought and feeling Educates us.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 28 4/6/20 3:14 pm And, yes, this reminds us of life skills learnt at school Mesmerised by the words we hear Surprised by what we learn We realise many things. Enjoying our discoveries, engulfed by a peaceful feeling Just like a hot spring. We understand more about ourselves and the world Thinking about our past actions and words. Connecting the dots and realising why Although we could not before No matter how much we tried. Was that not education too That allowed us to discover our talents? To love ourselves and others To accept our body as it is. To see the difference between desires and actions Learn how to take control over both And become a better, wiser, more mature person. Learn how to rightly judge Be with and interact with people Generating human values Integrity Self-realisation Satisfaction And cohesion.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 29 4/6/20 3:14 pm Learning develops our understanding Critical thinking Personality and an open mind-set. It gives us creative skills And peace without sleeping pills. At the end of the day What is right and wrong? How do I solve my problems? How can I be happy? Such are the crucial skills of decision making. Evolution is seen every day Physically, spiritually Emotionally, morally. Things are in constant movement Everyone changes The world changes. We are taught how to accept And adjust to these life changes Always going forward in life. And is this not education? Yes, it is! New discoveries are forever being made As we walk along the eternal journey of education. We could say that it gives us an eternal, immortal mind Such is the kind of immortality that education grants us.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 30 4/6/20 3:14 pm Evolution Written by Mélahel Courtney Quincy Edouary, 15 years Sodnac State Secondary School

ducation is the accumulation of facts And the development of logic, skills and acts. To become a fully-fledged citizen EIt’s mandatory up to the age of six plus ten. Long ago education was not free Therefore not affordable for poor families Who at that time had many children Faced a lot of difficulties And tried by all their means To get them disciplined and developed. Eldest children had to work To quench their hunger and thirst And to help their families in need Sad and painful indeed. Girls doing jobs as sewing or house maids Boys being masons and other jobs Still parents could not make ends meet.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 31 4/6/20 3:14 pm Children’s scholarship in Mauritius is Pre-primary, primary, secondary From creativity in pre-primary To a large range of skills, faculties and subjects in secondary It is a way to success. Assessments through the year are performed To know the students’ progress. Sometimes these are tough But they have no other way round Than to put all efforts into getting a favourable result. Today, children have access to free education And online and distance tuition. They have free books and e-books at school Or get access through tablets and other tools. Deemed necessary for their learning And successful upbringing.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 32 4/6/20 3:14 pm Initiating the nine-year schooling, the Is finding ways to help those who struggle. Investing in communication technology for pupils in primary Spending more on education To make Mauritius a cyber island. Students in classrooms are observed Those records help teaching staff plan for the future. Opportunities are given to every single student facing Difficulties and inability to learn. The Government of Mauritius is putting more emphasis on education In some countries, guns and wars are their daily situation. No education leads to all types of scourges For example, alcohol, prostitution, drugs Which are taking over the world Leading to self-destruction and prison. Non-governmental organisations are fighting for construction Of ideas and resources to help and prevent those downfalls. Education was, is and will always remain at the heart of evolution and the only key to success.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 33 4/6/20 3:14 pm My feelings on education Written by Darshinee Seebaluck, 15 years Sodnac State Secondary School

hen I was at school, English was my thing When working on English, no bells ring. You want to be in a gang WAnd shoot up everything with a bang. You say they’ll have your back But education is what you lack. Education is the key of life Not getting stabbed with a knife. Education will lead you to great heights And take you away from daily fights. Education will help you to excel Not lead you to a country jail. You won’t find yourself doing ten Far away in a country pen. Or being charged with first degree murder In a terrifying court of orders. Getting life without bail While your family wail. Education gives you knowledge Intelligence, a sharp and cutting edge.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 34 4/6/20 3:14 pm It isn’t simply a symbolic gesture Learning is full of adventure. Knowledge on paper or in mind will not prove Degrees and qualifications may lead and improve. Your actions and work may find objections and disapproval Cry from all over for disqualification and removal. It’s a lesson you should heed If at first you don’t succeed Make education your need. Then your courage should appear For if you persevere You will conquer, never fear. Illiterates have common sense and ability to lead All the time they will need guidance and feed. Literates can think well ahead and act Balance approach and enough time to react. Once or twice, though you could fail If you would at last prevail.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 35 4/6/20 3:14 pm If we strike, it’s not a disgrace Though we don’t win the race. If you find your task is hard Time will bring you your reward. Knowledge and power lead to smartness and elegance It may look as if the air is filled with fragrance. Wherever you go, leave the lasting impression Save you from downfall and forceful emersion. It is not easy to go all alone Like feeling dislodged from the effects of a cyclone. What matters is its application Wrong use of it may lead to suffocation. Instead of embarrassing idleness Get educated and be the best.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 36 4/6/20 3:14 pm Redefining education Written by Krishnajivnee Veiyshnavee Balkissoon, 16 years Mahatma Gandhi Secondary School Nouvelle France

ducation, a powerful word, around which revolves my world Yet so intricate is its definition and little have I discerned. Intelligence, perfect grades, certificates are the attributes of an educated mind EQuickly join this crowd before you are left behind. Such words I have heard echo in my mind every time For many years I have even made them my guiding light. I have spent numerous days in revision and memorisation believing this was education In the process, sometimes failure chased me while sometimes I chased perfection. Seconds turned into minutes and minutes quickly changed into days and years Yet proud and confident I stood as I envisioned my bright future in the coming years Until I slowed down to look around and the bitter realisation dawned on me!

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 37 4/6/20 3:14 pm My world was surrounded by aggressive, self-absorbed and materialistic persons Bullying, drug addiction, corruption, discrimination were the raging demons. This has never been the aim of education How can knowledge and wisdom be the cause of destruction? Nonstop and daily cutthroat competition is causing much affliction I ponder, I assess, I reflect and I understand – Mighty education, how fast you are slipping through fingers like sand! Time and circumstances necessitate a redefinition of education Education – you are not just a concept or an idea Your reach is limitless and without you the world is spiritless. You don’t reside in books or schools or certificates Fame, competition, separation have never been your aims. You are meant to feed the soul and our minds and hearts uphold You are a light that guides through the darkness the young and the old. The one that guards against all vices And opens doors to virtues and suppressed voices. Once you touch a soul, no matter how big or small The power you enforce cannot be quelled Such a redefinition of yours my soul withheld.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 38 4/6/20 3:14 pm Follow your guide Written by Loïc Gregory Gerard Edouard, 14 years James Burty David State Secondary School

y name is education I am your salvation From human destruction MSince dawn of civilisation. May I have your attention? Half of your life is mine I determine the strength of your mind As a partner, I’m your guide To help you survive and thrive I pave your way to a better life. I am with you since your childhood You were so naïve, and now look at you! A bright future, all the things you can do I see you and I’m so proud You stick out of the crowd You can live a happy life Now I’ll start over again And take care of another child.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 39 4/6/20 3:14 pm Intelligence doesn’t come from me But I feed and fuel it It’s my role to enhance your mind So it’s up to you to decide Will you follow your guide Or be blind and take the wrong line? I’m not here to scare you Just here to help you. At school you thought you were so cool Hanging around with the wrong crowd In class getting bored or upset Asking yourself, “What am I doing here?” The clock ticking And you waiting For the bell to ring.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 40 4/6/20 3:14 pm All those precious times wasted away While you could advance further today In your free time go read and open up your mind If you follow all of your classes You should be positive and poised You’re sure to pass your exams Your effort should pay off No pain, no gain We only get what we deserve It happens all the time. Education is the key to success To a bright future you will get access So you have to be balanced Between hobbies and studies Be careful, don’t be influenced Chin up, stay focused Don’t waste your time Follow your guide!

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 41 4/6/20 3:14 pm Education Written by Harishwaren Veerapen, 14 years Royal College Curepipe

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” his is one quote from Nelson Mandela. Education is a primary tool Education shows us the way. From the dark cave of ignorance to a world of knowledge TEducation enlightens our way to success Like a path of burning torches inside a dark cave. What are we without it? Without education we are like ships lost in the wild ocean Ships with no lighthouse to channel them Ships at the mercy of devastating waves and whims. What is a ship without a captain? It is like us with no education. Education is the key to success Doors open wide, imaginations run wild. Education makes me the king. I decide if I want to become A doctor, a lawyer, a painter or writer. To be an astronaut and explore space Or to be a scientist and discover new things. After all, education is what remains After one has long left school.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 42 4/6/20 3:14 pm This is a world that cannot survive without education Indeed, education is the key to a bright and rewarding future. But education is not only about books Education is both formal and informal. Education is not only given at schools Society educates us, our parents educate us. To have a better knowledge and life One must possess the power of knowledge. Education, real education is not limited. It is not only academic, it equips us to deal with life. Skills, manners, courtesy, respect, integrity, humility All are taught to us. To respect others To help the poor and needy The aim of education is the knowledge Not only of facts but of values.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 43 4/6/20 3:14 pm Being privileged with free education I realise how lucky I am. My eyes become teary When I think of my brothers and sisters who struggle. Who fight to acquire knowledge Where many are labelled or banned because of their colour. I think of classes under trees Attended by children in remote villages While I am here comfortably seated at a desk in a classroom. The main reason why almost every children nowadays is either a Slave of sophophobia or scolionophobia Is because of the old system of learning The system where every single child who is locked away and set into a nonstop daily cutthroat competition with every other child for silly prizes and grades and it should be something that is stopped now.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 44 4/6/20 3:14 pm Lost Written by Chitrishabye Govind, 14 years Queen Elizabeth College

naware of the world’s cruel ways and hiding safely by your mother’s side I, being no exception, started my education very young Letters got associated with things in daily life UAnd I was happy, face lit up with knowledge Colours allowed me to draw what was on my mind And my creativity rose high like stars in the skies Scolded was I occasionally but still my feelings were not dampened Because I was told that education was the key to success And I believed in what I was taught Not knowing that everything was not as simple as I thought And that more would be revealed as time went by. Schools and friends changed along the way Easy it was not but determined I still remained Each new journey of life started with past teachings fresh in my mind They said education is all for the good and I believed them My mind was filled with new knowledge And I was content, thinking it would bring me happiness But soon it felt like I was being tied by education Realisation of it all ended my childhood My talent was wasted, without any scope for new creation In class, I was told that education was the only thing in life And thus I was demotivated to engage in new quests My wings were clipped before they were unleashed I was forced to follow just like the rest.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 45 4/6/20 3:14 pm My books began to weigh me down And ink filled my head I was swimming in a vast ocean of knowledge Thinking it was all for the best But drowning deep instead And it wasn’t until much later in life That I learnt the value of education But what to do? My imagination and creativity were long gone …

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 46 4/6/20 3:14 pm Education in human civilisation Written by Danish Sheldon Puttyah, 13 years Royal College Curepipe

ducation, the base of our civilisation Education, the pillar of our civilisation Education, you bring us knowledge and understanding of our world, our history! EEducation, you bring us knowledge and understanding of ourselves! What would we be without you, education? What would the world be without you, education? Stupid and primitive beings! That’s what we would be without you Chaotic and wild! That’s how Earth would be without you. Education gives status to people – rich or poor Education gives a label to people Intelligent or stupid, literate or illiterate Knowledgeable or ignorant. Education is available freely in our beloved country Mauritius Education is available to all children From the most materially deprived to the most wealthy From the most competent to the most incompetent. Some think that the poor boy is destined to a miserable life Who invented this mind-set? May their life be miserable! We see the moneyed one rush straight to ruin Because of his deplorable inability to reflect.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 47 4/6/20 3:14 pm A man can effectively climb after having fallen The wealthy one has the possibility to exploit a potential But may not have something to exploit The poor one may have potential but not the possibility to exploit it. Will we think of our fellow beings? For the ones who really care for the others Who are so small and so invisible? So much hard effort and so little progress! If only education was one hundred per cent available to anybody At any time and anywhere The potential of mankind would be fully exploited All dreams, desires, projects would be realised. For years, for decades, for centuries, for millenia We have achieved so much Become so literate, so skillful, so intelligent, so ambitious and so powerful But there is still a long, long way to go! Education never ends.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 48 4/6/20 3:14 pm My life and views on education Written by Yashvi Goburdhun, 14 years Mahatma Gandhi Secondary School Moka

f you are reluctant to learn Not a single soul will be able to help you. Yet, if you are intrinsically motivated INot a single soul can mislead you. The economists define education As a want. However, I believe Being educated in this time Is a need for all. I feel fortunate to study in a country Like Mauritius, where students are Granted free education and the Comfort of a table and a chair. Exams pressure, full page of homework Continuous assessments, limited time For self revision, private tuitions form Part of a tedious life for an average pupil. The principle of examination says That if you are nice to studies, your Exams will be nice to you. It is just A vice-versa application. Isn’t it?

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 49 4/6/20 3:14 pm I knew this algebra was not to be Used in my future, but the marks I’ll obtain when learning this shall Definitely make my future beautiful. When I was in primary school My teacher often sent me Out of the class, whereas Inside, she was providing explanation to my peers. What was the reason? Just because I have lice She even told my friends Not to talk to me. Every alternate day I was crying For this “mistake” of having lice I was sometimes asked to stand Outside the headmaster’s office. Late-comers would come, see me And move to their respective classes Believe me, nothing was more painful Than the way they looked at me.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 50 4/6/20 3:14 pm After this discriminations I started to lose my self-love and self-confidence I had no idea how to fight for myself I did not know how to protest against bad allegations. But my life blossomed when I went to college College will teach you a lot About yourself, you just have to pay Attention. What I have learnt is that learning will never stop Being beautiful. The beauty of learning is that No one can take it from you. An educated person always Carries his values wherever he goes He feels respected by society because He already has good values in him. Education unlocks the golden door Of freedom: freedom of speech, thoughts, views, Freedom of ideas, intentions, efforts Freedom of livelihood and concentration.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 51 4/6/20 3:14 pm Study hard, it may seem hectic It may take time, it may take nights But the feeling of success is The best thing in the entire world. Great students invest their time in Hard work, smart working, focusing on Better career, materialising their goals With interest. My father always told me That when I was wasting my Time while procrastinating Someone else somewhere was getting smarter. Study because of the sacrifices of your beloved parents The greatest and most beautiful gift you Can give them is your Outstanding results. Always aim to make your Parents proud, your teachers proud Your institution proud, your country proud And yourself proud with your Achievements.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 52 4/6/20 3:14 pm The benefits of education Written by Rajarshi Ayrga, 13 years Royal College Curepipe

ave you ever wondered What blunder have we done us students? Thinking that education is a trident is that is going to stab us through our academic journey. HWhy does this long journey bother us so much? In the future it will be education, which will help us to build up our profession, thus enabling our survival. We must clear our doubts about education because it has numerous reimbursements. Education makes our future more successful and less stressful. With the help of education, you will fly high to the zenith of the sky. You may be tall and strong physically but what is the point if you are uneducated. You will be wrong and you will fall. Such is education that it can kill poverty. Surprising as it may sound it is the reality. Can money bring the sweetness of honey in our lives so that we can live in dignity? As an everlasting quest for knowledge, it has reached marvels in medication. Education brings us closer to good health, education brings us closer to vast wealth. Long ago boys were considered as gold whereas girls were considered as dirt. Society believed that the right of education solely belonged to the boys.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 53 4/6/20 3:14 pm Fortunately, nowadays, the equality of genders has been promoted And both genders can be reflected as gold. Everybody is treasure and has the right to education. Education is the dazzling white bird that flies resplendently through countries to foster peace. This bird has a heart for the inhabitants of the countries affected by the waging of war among other countries. Without this white bird, many innocent lives would have disappeared. This is the true value of education! Even if we, students, are the least percentage of the population, we are the future of our nation!

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 54 4/6/20 3:14 pm Never question education Written by Peroumani Ullayen, 15 years J. M. Frank Richard State Secondary School

ducation. It begins in the womb And it ends in the tomb. Education has multiple functions It teaches, it informs, it fashions EOur minds and humanises us. Neither are we too young nor too precocious Nor too old or too wise Education is, after all, to sensitise. Can we imagine our lives without it? Without education, we’d fall into a pit. Education, you stand for light You pave the way towards success. Education, you make our lives bright You are there to eradicate darkness. Education, a means to leave the poverty trap Without you, there would be an unbridgeable gap Between rich and poor. Those who possess the wealth of education The world belongs to them for sure! Education certainly leads to satisfaction. Education helps us to study history It allows us to know many personalities. Education made us know Gandhi Mandela, Martin Luther King and Many others we got to know The list is too long to show.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 55 4/6/20 3:14 pm Education helps us to discover role models These individuals that inspire us. Education always rules and excels We just need to be studious. Education can be academic, formal and informal The greatest school is that of life. The statement is and remains official Education: learn and study for life. Without education, no arms, no weapons Let education unite us in a sacred bond. The more we learn The more we note how little we actually know. The approach might be sweet, it might be stern No matter what, everyday, we can learn something new. When you have education, you have power Power to lead, power to conquer. When you have education, you create Achieve, build, mould, shape, inculcate. When you have education, “You” becomes “We” Education teaches us to be one, you see. Education has no end But is a means to an end. Education teaches us to question … To question everything except education!

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 56 4/6/20 3:14 pm A life with education Written by Bibi Saniyah Khadijah Teelhawod, 12 years Sodnac State Secondary School

ducation is everyone’s right It offers the chance to see the light Spending money to party makes me feel saturated EBut education can never be rated. Education plays a rudimentary role It cannot be eradicated like a mole It is the thought of learning new information If you are not educated, you cannot come to a conclusion. Education is the key to success It makes our life less stressed Education lessens the challenges that you will face It helps you to be in the rat race. Education is a treasure That we cannot measure It can be described as a land of pleasure We can read a lots of books at leisure. Education is a path to upward lead For success, we also need to read It teaches us to address So we climb the ladder of success.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 57 4/6/20 3:14 pm Education helps opportunities in organisations People can work because of education It gives huge opportunities for better living Without education, your ship is just sinking. Education is essential just like air and food It prepares youngsters to adulthood It improves the living standards of people in a community It also eradicates the problem of illiteracy. Life without education is harsh and tiresome With it, life is full of freedom Education is the foundation of society It brings social prosperity and political stability. It enriches our culture It is the passport for the future. For me, education is a part and parcel of my life Without it, I will not be able to survive. Thanks to education, I will continue to shine Make my parents proud and be on cloud nine. With it, I am able to achieve my dreams Education is one of the best themes.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 58 4/6/20 3:14 pm Education, the ultimate destination … Written by Isheeta Alishaa Khedoo, 12 years Seewa Bappoo State Secondary School

ducation, the ultimate destination … Education, our treasury of knowledge throughout glorious generations In danger is the state of our nation for education is losing its Eappreciation! Throughout generations, our ancestors have fought with bold communication From country to country and situation. Periods of colonisation, no sanctuary for innocence, no sanctuary for tranquillity Only amalgamation of teary sensation, treacherous abductions, corruption and affectations. Education, the ultimate destination … But wait! What was education? What is education? What will be education? Is education our ultimate destination? Former rules fail in absolute application, for the new generation is a power station. Constantly questioning, constantly challenging Constantly seeking the truth from multiple equations. The fight for education to save the next generation, yet So many challenging complications in the fuzzy network – like nation. Technology, science, internet, television and industrialisation! Yet, so many problems with no solutions

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 59 4/6/20 3:14 pm Education to be part of grand graduations, yet, nations still subjugated! Education, the ultimate destination … Education, where did we leave our education From the times when neighbours were together in every situation? Where countries lived in unbelievable unification When nature was in purification unification. When nature was in purification? The current situation Full of information, yet so much desolation, so much corruption! With a little dedication and sheer sophistication It’s time for new education and bombastic action. For every situation, there’s a solution Open invitations, higher motivations To get over the infatuation of our fake communication. With no assimilation and clear thinking connections Diseased and downgraded are our nations and our generations. Education, the ultimate destination … What is the solution in face of the accusation? Somehow, involuntary education leads to predestined destinations. Pay attention, test your temptations, ask questions to receive new vocations. Let go of limitations and imitations in the hope of illumination Free from class, religion and political affiliations. The new foundation is rooted in innovation, excelling past expectations And getting over moral fixations. We need more education to Stop the manipulation. Education, the ultimate destination … Goodbye, commercialisation and colonisation For education is the ultimate destination. Attention, keep your position with repetition of renewed expectations. Education, the new revolution … Education … the new condition!

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 60 4/6/20 3:14 pm My views on education Written by Andrew Ip Min Wan, 12 years Royal College Curepipe

fierce competition, like lions hunting for food Wanting to bring more for their pride – this is what education is. Nowadays, not only learning, but competition makes up what education really is AFailure at education automatically means failure in life. Forced into our tired and stressed minds are precious bits of information and knowledge While confined in a small, stuffy classroom devoid of happiness or positive feelings. Lying down on my safe haven of a bed, I pondered profusely on largely unexplored topics What is the point of education nowadays? What has it become? As a student, I am stuck in a mechanism In a machine that is education, our minds plagued and beset by daily struggles I can only wonder whether education is worth it. Information from different subjects forced into our minds is what makes up education The problem is, no matter what, we are inconsiderably obliged to do subjects we despise.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 61 4/6/20 3:14 pm Let me give you example, art is a perfect sample of a loathed subject Students are compelled to draw, but only some can and most can’t Art is solely creativity and not a large variety of students show proficiency. Thought-requiring subjects are magnets attracting students like ants to sweets and beets While art is a bug repellent. My predilection and love for the sciences strengthens my hate for art Lamentations of forceful obligation often stem from students doing their art work. Poor grades at school need explanations One plausible clarification is that the problem comes from education itself Although another simplication is pure laziness. Same questions for everyone is what makes standardised tests Which should be coined memory tests Rare logic questions on the paper like oases in desserts should be included Hence encouraging critical thinking.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 62 4/6/20 3:14 pm The repercussion of poor achievements Is the failure of obtaining a life-changing diploma. The only improvement for education is the implementation of aptitude tests The results show in what field a student has an affinity. Poor performers in art end up as world-pioneering scientists Poor performers in the sciences end up as world-renowned artists. The improper structure of the system should be properly arranged The oft-dreaded finals at the end of the year cause immense stress upon students. “Butterflies in the stomach” plague all students without exception. The mere utterance of the word “finals” instills so much stress in me That I have to lie on my bed to try and remove the thought from my careworn mind. On the day of my finals my hands shivered with stress and inevitably The spoon in my hand at breakfast dropped and I was left shattered. The faultiness of education still prevails and is yet to be fixed And each student hopes for the best.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 63 4/6/20 3:14 pm 50th Anniversary of Australia and Mauritius Diplomatic Relations

his year, 2020, marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Mauritius. The relationship between the two countries is founded on shared values and common interests as partners in the Indian Ocean. Australia and Mauritius have a long history of people-to-people links, with diverse, Ttolerant and multicultural communities a feature of our vibrant democracies. Today, an important pillar of cooperation is education and research where partnerships between Australian and Mauritian institutions are supporting human capacity development and innovative collaborations, including the support of Mauritius’s development as a regional knowledge hub. The celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations provides a platform to showcase the diverse range of partnerships in education, recognising the achievements of the many who have received Australian education qualifications, and the importance of engaging with the youth – the leaders of tomorrow. Australia is a committed and long-standing development partner. The Australian Government’s Australia Awards Scholarship Program supports human capacity development in critical sectors in Mauritius, while the High Commission’s Direct Aid Program, which provided support for the Ducere Foundation’s first African Children Stories for Mauritius collection, continues to work with local authorities and NGOs to bring meaningful change to local communities. This special Ducere Foundation Sixtieth Collection of African Children’s Stories: Mauritian Slam Poetry showcases the creative collaborations between Australian and Mauritian partners through the powerful voice of young Mauritian poets who aspire to be the leaders of tomorrow.

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 64 4/6/20 3:14 pm Ducere Foundation Reach

Mali

Senegal Ethiopia Somalia Liberia Uganda Ghana Kenya Nigeria Rwanda

Democratic Republic of the Congo Tanzania

Malawi Mozambique

Madagascar Namibia Mauritius

Botswana Zimbabwe Eswatini South Africa

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DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 66 4/6/20 3:14 pm Ducere Publishing is a program of the Ducere Foundation, operating under the direction of Di Fleming, Executive Director in Melbourne. Through Ducere Publishing, African children are encouraged to write, to become published authors and to build lasting relationships with the elders of their community. Each African Children’s Stories collection captures ideas, preserves tradition and ignites the love of learning and education. ducerefoundation.org [email protected]

Thank you

Mika Hirwa – a freelance comic book artist and illustrator. A message from Mika to those reading this book: "No matter where you have grown up or what you have passed through, none of it can keep you away from being the author of your destiny". www.instagram.com/mikaxh

Copyright © 2020 by Ducere Foundation Ltd. All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Head of Publishing: Terri Irvin, Editor: Writers Reign, Designer: Bridget Hoadley.

DF 60C_MauritiusSlamPoetry_2020.indd 67 4/6/20 3:14 pm ISBN 978-0-9924150-9-9 With support from

9 780992 415099 >

ISBN 978-0-9924150-9-9

ducerefoundation.org

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